Lauren Cook

Lauren Cook is a graduate of TMU Dance 05’, a choreographer, educator, the CEO of Cornerstone Studio and Artistic Director of Alias Dance Project. Lauren has performed, curated, produced, and taught at a wide variety of professional organizations, festivals, cultural events, and educational institutions across Canada.

In 2007, Lauren co-founded Alias Dance Project alongside 5 women. As a dancer with Alias, Lauren performed in works developed and commissioned by award-winning choreographers including Solid State Breakdance, Valerie Calam, Emmanuelle Le Phan, Heidi Strauss, Mate Meszaros, Allen Kaeja, Troy Feldman, Apolonia Velasquez, Hanna Kiel, and others. 

In 2012 Lauren became Alias’ Artistic Director. As Artistic Director, Lauren shifted Alias’ focus to presenting her own distinct choreographic creations. As a choreographer, Lauren has created over 20 unique works. Alongside creating, Lauren has always had a passion for facilitating development opportunities for emerging dance artists. From 2015-2018, she produced 4 International Summer Dance Intensive programs, drawing on world-renowned dance and movement artists Peter Jasko, Mate Meszaros, Frankie J., Monsta Pop, Venom, Toyin, Laura Aris, Roberto Olivan, and many others.

As an educator, Lauren has worked with the Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board and Prologue to the Performing Arts as a Professional Development workshop leader for educators and as an instructor and creative mentor for students in Grades 1 -12. Lauren has taught at pre-professional training programs, led professional dance classes, and has been commissioned to create works for CODE, PULSE, LCI Academy, GMD, Kaeja D’Dance, TMU, Proarte Danza Summer Intensive, George Brown Dance Program, and others.

Cornerstone was created in 2014 initially to serve as a permanent home for the company, however over the years it has grown into a space that support it's local Gerrard East community through dance, fitness and pilates classes.